Ix 
MEMOIR OF 
immediate successors of the savages, and far below them 
in good sense and good manners, as well as comfortable 
accommodations. An engi-aved representation of one of 
their cabins would form a striking embellishment to the 
pages of the Portfolio, as a specimen of the first order of 
American architecture." 
“ In the afternoon of the l.'ith, I entered Big Bone 
Creek, which being jjassable only about a quarter of a 
mile, I secured my boat, and left ray baggage under the 
care of a decent family near, and set out on foot five 
miles through the woods for the Big Bone Lick, that 
great antediluvian rendezvous of the American elephants. 
This place, which lies ‘ far in the windings of a sheltered 
vale,’ afforded me a fund of amiusement in shooting ducks 
and paroquets, (^of which last I skinned twelve, and brought 
off two slightly wounded,) and in examining the ancient 
buffalo roads to this gresit licking place. Mr Colquhoun, 
the proprietor, was not at home ; but bis agent and 
manager entertained me as well as he was able, and was 
much amused with my enthusiasm. Thi.s place is a low 
valley, every where surrounded by high hills ; in the 
centre, by the side of the creek, is a quagmire of near an 
acre, from which, and another smaller one below, the 
chief part of these large bones have been taken ; at the 
latter places, I found numerous fragments of large bones 
lying scattered about. In pursuing a wounded duck across 
this quagmire, I had nearly deposited my carcass among 
the grand congregation of mammoths below, having sunk 
up to the middle, and bad hard struggling to get out.” 
“ On Friday the 24th, I left my baggage with a 
merchant of the place [Louisville], to be fonvarded by the 
first wagon, and set out on foot for Lexington, seventy- 
tw'O miles distant. 
“ Walking here in wet weather is most execrable, and 
is like travelling on soft soap ; a few days of warm 
tveather hardens this again almost into stone. Want of 
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